1 year later...

Micah

"Happy birthday, pretty girl." I coo to Hannah as she rouses from sleep slowly like always. The girl sleeps like the dead, but we've got plans today so I can't let her do her normal routine of rolling around for twenty minutes before she finally graces me with her presence. Her eyes flit open and travel the room, bright sunlight slipping in through the window giving the room a soft glow.

I'll be sad to leave this house in a few months. We agreed to move into "The Alpha House" since it's more strategically placed within the pack and easier to guard, but this little house has been the closest thing to home I've ever felt. Of course with Hannah, anywhere feels like home. She's my sun and I just kind of spin around her, hoping she'll keep me warm. A small smile spreads across her face when she sees the tray I'm carrying, full of cut up fruit, juice, yogurt and her favorite pancakes that I learned how to make just for her.

"Thank you, baby." Her raspy morning voice calls out, shaking me from my stupor of staring at her.

"You know what else today is?" I ask her, smiling brightly as she grips the food from me.

"What?" She asks looking up at me curiously as she starts to cut up her food.

"It's one year of us being mates!" I say excitedly. She smiles and motions me to her. She grips my face and smashes her lips onto mine making me groan as the bulge in my pants begins to grow.

"Can I have that for dessert?" She asks coyly and I shake my head.

"Not today, my love." I tell her and she pouts her little lip out, huffing in annoyance making me chuckle.

"But it's my birthday! I should get what I want!" She exclaims and I smile before kissing her forehead.

"And you will. But we've got things to do. People to see." I tell her and her eyes sneak up to mine.

"Oh yeah? Like what?" She asks, inching her hand to my groin.

"Finish your breakfast like a good girl and you'll see." I say, humor lacing my tone as I sneak into the shower, making her growl in frustration.

I forgot how terrible Hannah is with surprises. Luckily I only had to deal with her incessant badgering for the amount of time it takes to walk to the packhouse. We walk hand in hand, her marveling at how nice the weather is in between her rapid firing questions about her surprise.

"Sweetness, just wait five more minutes." I implore her and she growls at me adorably. I smile and scoop her up into my arms, kissing her gently and carrying her the rest of the way. She rests her head on my shoulder and rumbles of content spill out of her making me smile.

We walk into the packhouse and I take her to the main room and nudge her to open her eyes. She looks around curiously and squeals in excitement before throwing herself from my arms, almost landing on the floor.

"Katie!" She screams, running across the room to her friend.

"Hannah!" Katie cries as they clash in the middle, wrapping each other in tight hugs. I watch with an affectionate smile as my girl clings to her best friend. Hannah had a hard time when Katie left for Alpha Jamie's pack. I know she didn't want to say anything because she was so happy for her friend getting a second chance, but it was hard for Hannah to make friends.

Luckily she doesn't have that problem anymore.

"How has everything been going? Do you love your pack?" Hannah starts asking her and I turn my attention to Jamie and Austin who looks like he's grown a foot since the last time I saw him.

"Thanks for bringing her for today. I really appreciate." I tell him. He smacks my back affectionately and looks at his mate. I don't miss his second mark, dark and shining while the one his first mate gave him is dull and more scar like.

"I should be thanking you. Your mate helped me find mine. You will always have my alliance, Micah. We'll be back when you and Hannah have your ascension ceremonies in a few months. I'm excited to see what you can do with this pack. Your dad has been going on and on about how impressed he is with you." Jamie says warmly and I can't help but blush a little.

Since mating Hannah, we have both stepped up in the pack, taking on more responsibilities, trying to work solutions to problems, even just trying to find new ways to keep people happy.

I spearheaded a new park with awesome equipment. Hannah refurbished the library, although I think that was as much for her as the pack. I still chuckle when I think about it. I don't do much reading, but when I need to escape for a few hours I head there for a nap. The couches she picked are incredibly comfortable.

"That girl over there changed my life. I owe it all to her." I say warmly, looking at Hannah. As if she can feel my gaze on her, her eyes lock with mine and soften as she sends bouts of love through our bond. The feeling makes my heart swell so large I feel an ache in my chest. I walk over to her and place her on my lap, tucking my face in her neck. Jamie does the same with Katie and we sit in contentment as our girls chat idly. Austin soon gets annoyed and runs outside to play kickball with the kids.

Katie manages to keep Hannah occupied for the rest of the afternoon as I finalize plans for my other surprise. The one I didn't even whisper about to Hannah because she would have driven me insane all day. I walk into our house and find Hannah where I find her most days. The library.

"Hey, sweetness. Where'd Katie go?" I ask her, slipping next to her on the couch and wrapping my arms around her. I rest my head on her chest so she can relax her arms on me and still read her book. I've fallen asleep like this more times than I can count.

"She and Jamie took Austin on a run in the forest." She says.

No they didn't. They went to meet us at the next surprise.

But I just nod and lean up to kiss her chin making her smile. She puts her book down and wraps her arms around me, kissing the top of my head and running her fingers along my back. I purr and fight off sleep. I push myself up and send her a wicked smile making her face contort into concern.

She knows me so well.

"Let's go! Surprise number two awaits!" I say and she snorts.

"I better not get any more of your number two surprises after that little workshop we had on how to flush the toilet." She says with an air of annoyance and I scoff.

"That was one time. I was in a hurry and I apologized." I defend myself as I pull her out of the house. She chuckles and smiles at me affectionately as I pull her towards the packhouse lawn.

As soon as we round the corner, the whole pack is there and yells "Surprise!"

Hannah's mouth gapes in astonishment as she takes in the scene. Lanterns are hung giving the whole yard a warm, welcoming glow, tables with food, presents and a giant cake litter the yard as well as some chairs for people to sit. A little dance floor was constructed in the middle and one of the teenagers had some kind of music equipment that they can play songs on for us. I look down at Hannah who is still surprised.

"They wanted to throw you a birthday party." I tell her, holding both of her hands in mine.

"Who did?" She asks, her voice raspy from emotion.

"Everyone. The whole pack. They love you, Hannah. Almost as much as me." I say earnestly. She looks up at me with her big beautiful eyes and a stray tear falls. I wipe it away and smile.

"None of that now. This is a fun occasion." I tell her and she nods before throwing her arms around me in a hug. The pack oohs and aahs with affection for us and she pulls away a little blushing.

"Thank you!" She yells to the pack making them all smile. She begins to walk forward, but I pull her back into my side, wrapping an arm around her waist and addressing the crowd.

"Now, I know you all want some attention from your future Luna, but I'm greedy, so I get the first dance. You can have her after." I tell them making them all laugh warmly.

I pull Hannah to the dance floor, pulling her into my chest as a slow song begins to play. She wraps herself around me, resting her head on my chest as we begin to sway slowly to the music.

"Thank you for this, Micah." She whispers, looking up at me adoringly. I smile and bend down to kiss her, just a quick one that will barely hold me over until I can get her alone.

"You deserve it, sweetness. You deserve the world."